Machine for making hat-frames.



H. SILBERT & S. WACHTEL. MACHINE FOR MAKING. HAT FRAMES. APPLICATIONFILED SEPT.28, 1910.

1,011,381. v v Patented Dec. 12,1911.

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25)" Z 52 a9 4% I H. SILBERT-& s. WACHTBL. MACHINE FOR MAKINGHAT'FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1910.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D- C.

UNITED sTATEs TENT OFFICE.

HARRY SILBERT, on BOSTON, ANn sIDNnY iWACHTEL, onBnoo-K- I n,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS To UNIVERSAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING HAT-FRAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 19 11.

Application filed September28, 1910. Serial No. 584,234.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY SILBERT, of

' Boston, inthe county of Suffolk, and SIDNEY WACHTEL, of Brookline, inthe county of Norfolk, both in the State of Massachusetts, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Hat- Frames,of which the following is a specifica'tion. i

This invention relates to machines for making wire frames for ladieshats and refers particularly to that type of such machines which employa circular series of groups of ad]ustable pattern-forming rods or armsaround Wh1ch the operator wraps or winds the wire, a machine of thisgeneral type beingillustrated in U. S. Letters Patent N0. 97 2,407granted to us Oct. 11, 1910.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine ofthis character having improved mechanism for controlling the radialmovements of the members or units of the circular form.

Another object is to provide a machine of i different sizes of hats,without altering their 1 is formed with an angular recess 18 in itsdetails of construction tending to facilitate.

the operation of making the hat frames, all

as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

To these-ends the invention consists in the construction and Combinationof parts substantially as hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims.

Of the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.Fig. 2 represents a section on line 22of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents asection on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but with the table and its angular studremoved. Fig. 4: is an under plan view of the rotary form, removed fromthe supporting spindle. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the formunits, consisting of a clamp box and a set of wire-supporting arms. Fig.6 is a detail elevation, looking from the line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is'adetail view of the size-regulating pin or spindle.

Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in allof the views.

A standard 10, having a base or foot piece -or other support, isprovided with a spindle 12 on which the entire mechanism is adapted torotate freely to enable the operator to turn it around as the hat frameis being a made. This free rotation, however, is, in the presentmachine, limited to one direction, rotation in the other direction beingrestricted and utilized to collapse the circular series of form units sothat the operator can remove the finished hat frame.

Surrounding the spindle 12 and secured thereto as by a screw 13, is acircular block having a ratchet-toothed upper surface 14. Said block isrigid with the standard and therefore might have been made integraltherewith. It is made as a separate piece for convenience ofmanufacture, but it really constitutes the upper section of a two-partstandard. The ratchet 14 is circular andthe surface 15 within theratchet is raised to provide a flat bearing to rotatively support ablock 16 which has one or more gravity pawls 17 pivoted to it andengaging the ratchet 1 1. Therefore the block 16 can rotate freely inbut one direction. Said block upper side (see Fig. 3 and dotted lines inFig. 2) for a purpose presently described.

The table 19 and its arms 20 constitute a carrier for the series of armclamps and is provided with a wide pinion 21 at the center of its underside, said pinion being secured to the table by a screw 22 and washer23. Rigidly connected to or integral with the pinion 21 is a downwardlyprojecting angular stud 24fitting the recess 18 of block 16 and having acentral aperture for the spindle 12.

Each arm 20 is formed with slide-ways 25 for a frame or box 26.' Theslide-ways are practically ribs fitting grooves 27 formed in the sidesof the boxes 26 near the tops of the latter (see Figs. 5 and 6) so thatthe boxes practically depend from the arms instead of rising above thearms as in our patent above mentioned. We have found that this structureenables the boxes to slide easier and with less liability of friction orbinding than in the structure shown in said patent. The internal form ofthe boxes is substantially the same as in the said patent, and the sameis true of the adjustable wire-supporting fiat arms or strips 28 havingshoulders 29, and formed with wire-engaging notches 30. Also as to theclamping plates 31 and screws 32. The adjustments and functions of saidwiresupporting arms 28 are fully described in said patent.

Each box 26 is formed with an arm toothed at one side of its inner endto form a rack 33 which engages the pinion 21. These rack arms are notall in one plane, but are in different planes as shown in Fig. 2 so thatthey (eight of them being preferably employed in practice) may overlapand all engage the one pinion as shown in Fig. 4. The boxes and theirguide-ways and the rack arms are a little to one side of and parallelwith lines radial to the axis of the pinion, so that the racks shall betangent to the pinion and preferably in line with the longitudinalcenter of the boxes so that as the boxes move in their ways as presentlydescribed they will slide freely without lateral binding. To hold theboxes and their groups of arms 28 in their outermost positions duringthe operation of making a hat-frame, we employ springs 34 (four beingshown in Fig. 4) each spring being connected at one end to a screw orpin 35 projecting from a table arm 20 and at the other end to a screw orpin 36 projecting from the box mounted in that arm.

During the operation of making a hat frame, the carrier and its groupsof arms 28 which as a whole constitute the pattern or form for the hatframe, may be freely rotated in the direction which carries the pawls 17idly over the circular ratchet 14. A slight turn of the carrier in theother direction however instantly draws the boxes toward the center soas to collapse the form to enable the finished hat frame to be removedwithout changing the adjustment of the arms 28. This action is due tothe fact that when said carrier is turned as described, the pawls 17hold the block 16 stationary, and the angular recess of the latter whichreceives the angular stud of the pinion 21 prevents the latter fromturning. But since the carrier can turn on screw 21, and as the boxesmove therewith, such turning of the carrier in what may be termed thereversing or form-collapsing direction, must swing the racks 33 slightlyaround the now stationary pinion so as to simultaneously draw all theboxes inward against the tension of the springs 34. This can be donewith one hand, the other hand being em ployed to remove the finished hatframe, after which, release of the table permits the springs to act toturn the table and return all boxes to their outer positions.

For several purposes, it is desirable that the hat frames shall be madein different sizes, an important reason being so that the frames can benested for shipment. For this purpose, the difference in sizes need beonly slight, but it is of course essential that the differences shall beuniform. lVe will now describe the mechanism for this purpose.

Rotatably mounted in the outer end of one of the boxes 26, is a pin 37,having its outer end enlarged as best shown in Fig. 7, said pin having asomewhat smaller portion 38 mounted in a suitable bearing, formed in theouter end of a clamp box 26. The inner end of the pin is formed with anannular recess or groove 39. A screw 40, (see Fig. 4) passes through athreaded opening in one side of the box, the inner end of said screwentering the groove 39, so as to lock the pin against removal. Saidscrew, when turned in so that its inner end will bind against the bottomof groove 39, will lock the pin in its rotatably adjusted position, theobject of such adjustment being presently described. The barrel, orlarger portion of the pin is formed with a plurality of notches 41, thebottoms of which are preferably flat, forming chords of the circularsurface of the barrel portion of the pin. The notches are formed atdifferent distances lengthwise of the pin, and in different portions ofthe periphery thereof, so that when said pin is rotatably adjusted,either one of said notches will, alone cooperate with the positive lock.Said lock consists of a sliding plate 42, having horizontal slotsthrough which guide pins or screws 43 pass. Said pins or screws aremounted in down-turned ends 44 of the slide-ways. (See Fig. 4.) A spring45 attached to one of the slideways bears against one end of the plate42, to hold said plate normally in the position shown in Figs. 1, 4 and6. Said plate has an opening 46 surrounding the enlarged portion of thepin 37, one side of said opening 46 being pref erably formed as a chordof a circle, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6. This last mentionedportion of the plate 42 constitutes a latch 47 which is adapted tocooperate with either one of the notches 41 to positively look all ofthe clamp boxes 26 against movement in either direction as will bepresently described. One end of the plate 42 is bent outwardly to form afinger-piece 48. The outer end of the pin 37 is preferably milled as at49.

WVhenever a change is to be effected in the size of hat frame to bemade, the op erator pushes against the finger-piece 48 so as to releasethe latch 47 from the one engaged, and further movement in the samedirection will rotate the table or carrier so that the cooperation ofthe pinion and the racks hereinbefore described will result incollapsing the entire form consisting of the 41 opposite the latch orstop 47, and the plate 42 then released, the springs 34, act through theconnections and the pinion and racks as hereinbefore described, to causethe carrier,

to rotate backwardly until the latch or stop 47 slips into the selectednotch 41, the spring 45 then holding the plate42 in looking position.Owing to the engagement of the latch or stop portion 47 of the plate 42,with one of the notches 41, there can be no movement of the clamp boxesalong their ways. Consequently, all of the clamp units are held:

positively and firmly against inward movement during the operation ofwrapping the wires of the hat frame around the arms 28.

When a hat frame is completed, and is to.

ing the entire carrier so as to collapse the form to permit the removalof the finished hat frame. If no change is to be effected in the size ofthe frame being made, the operator will not touch the pin 37. When helets go of the finger-piece 48, the lock members will be automaticallyreengaged as the table or carrier springs back under the action of thesprings 34.

It will now be understood that we have provided not only means fordefinitely fixing the sizes for the making of the hat frame, but alsothat the action of shifting the clamp units inwardly and outwardly isobtained without the employment of any lever mechanism.

The machine comprises a series of groups of wire supporting arms whichare movable to enable the hat frame to be released without liability ofbending the arms out of shape when taking the hat frame ofi from themachine. Also the mechanism automatically returns the wire supportingarms to proper position, ready for the making of the next frame.

While the series of clamps may be referred to as circular, and is soreferred to herein and in the claims, it is to be under stood that thisterm is employed for purposes of brevity in description and not oflimitation. The term is not to be understood as limiting us to arrangingthe clamps in a perfect circle, because although most hat frames arecircular yet it would be no departure from our invention to have theclamp frames arranged in more or less of an oval or ovoid. Of course, bychanging the outward inclination of the arms of some groups relativelyto the arms of other groups the construction as illustrated may be usedfor making hat frames which are not exactly circular.

We claim 1. A machine of the character described, comprising a formcomposed of a series of arms, said form being mounted to rotate freelyin one direction, and connections whereby movement of the form in theother direction will automatically shift the arms to collapse the form.

2. A machine ofthe character described, comprising a pivotally mountedcarrier having ways, a gear pivoted coaxially with the carrier, meansfor preventing rotation of the gear in one direction, and a series ofarm clamps mounted in said ways and having racks meshing with said gear.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a spindle, a gearand a carrier having ways both mounted on said spindle, means forpreventing rotation of the gear in one direction, and a series of armclamps mounted in said ways, and having racks meshing with said gear.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising a spindle, anelongated gear and a carrier having ways, both mounted on said spindle,means for preventing rotation of the gear in one direction, and a seriesof arm clamps mounted in said ways and having overlapping racks meshingwith said gear.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising a spindle, a gearand a carrier having Ways both mounted on said spindle,-

means for preventing rotation of the gear in one direction, a series ofarm clamps mounted in said ways and having racks meshing with said gear,and spring mechanism for normally holding the arm clamps in their outerpositions. I

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a pivotally mountedcarrier having ways, a gear pivoted coaxially with the carrier, pawl andratchet mechanism for preventing rotation of the gear in one direction,and a series of arm clamps mounted in said ways and having racks meshingwith said gear.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising a carrier havingways, a gear having a pivoted connection with said carrier, means forpreventing rotation of the gear in one direction and a series of armclamps mounted in said ways and having racks meshing with said gear,whereby rotation of the carrier relatively to the gear will reciprocatethe arm clamps in their ways. I

8. A machine of the character described, comprising a spindle, a gearmounted on said spindle, means for preventing rotation of the gear inone direction, a carrier mounted on the spindle above the gear andhaving ways parallel with the radii of the cariier, and clamps boxesmounted in said ways and having racks meshing with said gear, themeshing of the racks and gear being substantially in line with thelongitudinal centers of said boxes.

'9. A machine of the character described, comprising a standard having aspindle, and a circular ratchet surrounding the spindle, a block havingan angular recess mounted on the spindle and having a pawl engaging saidratchet, a gear having an angular projection fitting said recess, acarrier having ways and pivot-ally mounted above the gear, arm clampsmounted in said ways and having racks meshing with said gear, and springmechanism for holding the arm clamps in outer positions.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising a spindle, acarrier having ways, and a gear, both mounted on said spindle, a seriesof arm clamps mounted in said ways and having racks meshing with saidgear, and means for adjustably limiting the outermost positions of thearm clamps.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising a pivotally mountedcarrier, a series of groups of arms carried by said carrier, and meanswhereby movement of the carrier in one direction on its axis willautomatically vary the size of the form comprising said arms, whereby achange of position is effected Without the employment of a lever.

12. A machine of the character described, comprising a pivotally mountedcarrier having ways, a series of arm clamps mounted in said ways, meansfor simultaneously shifting the clamps along said ways, and means forpositively locking the clamps relatively to their ways.

13. A machine of the character described, comprising a pivotally mountedcarrier having ways, a series of arm clamps mounted in said ways, andvariable stop mechanism for determining the positions of said clamps intheir ways.

14:. A machine of the character described, comprising a pivotallymounted carrier having Ways, a series of arm clamps mounted in saidways, and means for variably and positively determining the positions ofsaid clamps in their ways, said means comprising a pin carried by one ofthe clamps and having a plurality of notches, and a lock adapted toengage either one of said notches.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses.

HARRY SILBERT. SIDNEY WACHTEL. WVitnesses':

C. F. BROWN, J. M. MURPHY. r

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

